Chasing the Winter Blahs

It looks like the impending winter storm will mostly miss Pennsylvania, but it’s made things pretty gray and gloomy this week. Milder temps but, geez, it still feels like winter. Colder and sunnier days ahead might make us feel better, but maybe not. Good grief, why am I talking about the weather? Anyway. As is often the case here at Trailheads, this week’s post is a collection of assorted items from the Trails of History, with no apparent connection to each other. First person to find a theme (described in 50-100 words) gets to write a guest post! (Offer void where prohibited.)

Fort Pitt Museum and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania will be open Monday, Jan. 21, but all other Trails of History sites are closed.

The deadline for undergraduate and graduate students to apply for the PHMC's Keystone Summer Internship Program is February 15. Internships are unpaid but PHMC works with students' home institutions to provide academic credit. Moreover, real world work experience, substantive projects, and professional networking are part of the deal as well. Students can apply to work in the PHMC's Harrisburg offices or at sites on the Trails of History. For more information, go here.

Tomorrow at 3 pm, the Anthracite Heritage Museum will mark the 54th anniversary of the Knox Mine Disaster with a program of speakers, film footage, and music. The program is free, but if you want to view the museum’s excellent exhibits, regular admission fees apply. (You may want to check out their Facebook page—they’ll be offering some discounts after hitting 500 likes—or join the museum associates group.)

Washington Crossing Historic Park is nominated in several categories for this year’s Happening List in Bucks County. I think you’re supposed to be a local resident to vote, so if you are, please do. The Friends of Washington Crossing are nominated for best Bucks Charity (click here to vote). Click here to vote for Brewfest (third annual coming up May 11) as best outdoor event. And you can support Bowman’s Hill Tower for best scenic view by clicking here.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania is currently exhibiting a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation in honor of its 150th anniversary. The document is on loan from the Union League of Philadelphia and will be on view during regular museum hours through Feb. 3. Find out more here.

The Winter 2013 issue of Pennsylvania Heritage magazine is out. Two articles on very different subjects are available online—one on motorsports in Pennsylvania and the other on Woo Hong Neok, a Chinese American soldier in the American Civil War (he lived in Lancaster County). The full magazine (including the quarterly Trailheads feature) is a benefit of membership in the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation.

Pennsbury Manor is hosting this year’s interpretation workshop by the Rural History Confederation (an association of historic sites located in southeastern PA). The theme is Mythbusting and looks at popular misconceptions of history and historic sites. The workshop is designed for folks who interpret history to the public but open to anyone interested in history. Registration is required (cost is $35). Go here for details.

Tomorrow’s Plant Propagation workshop at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum is sold out, but there are more Heirloom Seed Program events (as well as lots of other things) on the schedule if you want to get a jump on the crowd. Go here for more info.

That's it for now. Whatever you do this weekend, may it be rewarding.